Elevator installation



y 8, 1930. c. J. GILROY I 1,770,267

ELEVATOR INSTALLATION Filedloct. 17, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 1 #2 l 1 b; 5 5 Q' 2| a2 5 24 45 ii 2| [$4 25 lb 52. ii A F1013 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 8, 1930. c. J. 'GILROY smvmon INSTALLATION Filed Oct. 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGH INVENTOR Y E N R 0 w A July 8, 1930.

c. J. GILROY ELEVATOR INSTALLATION Filed 001;. 1'7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIQIZ FIGS FIQIO v. E N m w A W W M Fatentd July 8 193@ snare sraras were? FAFEFIF @FFEFE CHARLES JOSE-EH GILROY, 0F BOGOTA, NEW JERSEY,/ASSIGNOR T0 OTIS ELEVATDR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 015 NEW JERSEY ELEVATOR INSTALLATION Application filed October 17, 1928. Serial No. 313,070.

of especial utility in installations of the auto matic push button or passenger controlled type. It is usual practice in present day automatic push button elevators to provide contacts on the doors and car gate to prevent operation of the car unless the gate and all the doors are closed. Even with these safety provisions, however, unusual conditions may arise which might result in accidents. A person desiring to use the car may become imprisoned between a hatchway door and the car gate, due to the closing of the door before he has opened the gate, and beinjured as the result of someone at another floor causing the starting of the car. Also, children may choose the space between a hatchway door and car gate as a hiding place while playing games and likewise be injured. The contacts on the gate may become short-circuited, either accidentally or maliciously, permitting the operation of the car with the gate open. In such event, occupants of the car may become injured during operation of the car as a result of their strik ing projections from the wall of the hatchway or as a result of their clothing catching on such projections The object of the invention is to minimize the possibility of the occurrence of such accidents or of accidents due to similar causes. One feature of the invention is to provide an elevator hatchway with the side facing theentrance of the elevator car having all of its surfaces flush over a width equal at leastto that of the car entrance.

Other features andadvantages will become apparent from the following specification and appended claims.

In carrying out the invention according to the preferred arrangement, the inner side of the hatchway wall on the entrance side of the elevator car is 'made perfectly flat in front of the car between the limits of car travel, the hatchway sides of the door casings, doors and door sills are flush with the hatchway wall and all projections within this area are eliminated. Further, a minimum of clearance is provided between the elevator car and the hatchway Wallf With this construction, it is impossible for any person to stand between the car gate and a hatchway door nor is there anything which an occupant o the car might strike or upon which his clothing might catch when the car is operated with the gate open.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of the elevator hatchway wall in which the hatchway doors are located;

Figure 2 is an elevation of a hatchway door shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the corridor; Q

Figure 3 is an elevation of the hatchway door in Figure 2 as viewed from the car;

Figure 4. is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 47-4 of Figure 2; I

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing the door in plan with parts broken away to illustrate certain structural details Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the upper hinge and the combined lower hinge and door check; I

Figure 7 is a fragmental detail illustrating the application of the upper hinge;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmental detail similar to Figure 5, but showing ,only the door and casing, illustrating the arrangement of the interlock mechanism;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the interlock mechanism taken along line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the interlock mechanism taken along line 10.-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmental detail of a modified arrangement of a door; and

Figure 12. is a fragmental detail illustrating the manner of mounting a sight glass.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the hatchway wall in which openings are provided for the hatchway doors is designated by the character 21. Each of these openings is adapted to receive a door casing 22. The hatchway wall is perfectly flush throughout its height on its inner side and the casings 22 are set within the openings in such manner that the inner side of each casing is even with the inner side of the hatchway wall. A door sill 23 is set into the door opening at each landing with its inner surface flush with the inner surface of the hatchway wall and corresponding door casing. Each of the hatchway doors 24 is constructed in such manner that its hatchway side 25 presents a perfectly flat surface and is hung so that this surface is in vertical alignmentwith the inner surface of the casing, sill and hatchway wall.

According to the preferred arrangement, each of the doors 24 is of metal and of hollow frame construction with a panel 26 secured to the hatchway side of the door frame in such manner that the inner surface of the door is perfectly flat. The side edges of the door are rabbeted to provide projections 27 for abutting flanges or door stops 28 formed on the door casing. The top edge also of the door may be rabbeted to form a projection 29 and in this case a flange or door stop 30 is formed on the door casing for the projection 29. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 11. In either case, the construction provided is such that, when the doors are closed, their inner surfaces 25 are flush with the wall 21 of the hatchway throughout its entire height.

In the event that sight glasses are provided inthe hatchway doors, these glasses are positioned so that their inner surfaces are flush with the inner surfaces of their respective doors. A suitable arrangement is illustrated in Figure 12. An opening 31 is formed in the door panel 26 to receive the body portion of the glass 32. The glass is formed with a flange 33 to abut the corridor side of the door panel with the glass positioned in the open- The glass is retained in position as by in a hezel 34 secured to the door panel. The

thickness of the portion of the glass extending into the opening is equal to the thickness of the panel so that the hatchway surface 25 of the door is maintained perfectly flat.

The hatchway doors are illustrated as of the swinging type, a suitable arrangement for hanging each of the doors bein illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and 7. T e top edge of the door is formed with a depression 35 adapted to receive a plate 36 carrying an offset bearing 37 tojournal pintle 38. The pintle 38 is also journaled in offset bearing 39, carried by plate 40 mounted in a depression in the door casing, thus forming a hinge for the door. The bottom edge of the door also has a plate 41 countersunk therein. The spindle 42 of a door closer and check 43 is secured in ofi'set bearing 44 of the plate 41 and serves bothias a lower pivot for the door and as an operator for the door closer and check. The closer and check 43 is mounted frame.

in acement casing 45, the spindle 42 extendthe knob 52 for each door for opening the door from the elevator car 53 is countersunk into its escutcheon plate 54 and the plate mounted in a recess so that the fiat inner surface 25 of the door is preserved. Such arrangement is shown in Figure 3. A conventional knob may be provided on the corridor side of the door, as illustrated in Figure 2, for opening the door from the landing.

An electromechanical interlock 55 is provided for each door to prevent the operation of the car when any door is open and to prevent the opening of the door when the elevator is not at the landing at which the door is located. A suitable interlock mechanism, arranged to be operated by a retiring cam 56 carried .at the side of the elevator car 53, is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10. The door frame is so shaped that the portions 57 and 58 form the projection 27. The flange or stop 28 on the casing is formed by portions 59 and 60. Near the top of the door the part 57 of the door frame is cut away and the part 58 bent back into alignment with the part 61. The portions 59, 60 and 62 of the casing are cut away near the top and an angle plate 63 is secured to the casing. The housing of the interlock 55 is mounted on the plate 63 so that one end 64 of the housing extends within the angle formed by the parts 61, 58 and 65 of the door frame and the side 66 of the interlock housing is flush with the side 21 of the hatchway. A plate 67 having a U-shaped portion 68 is secured, as by welding, to the inner side of parts 58 and 61 of the door Part of one wall of the interlock housing is cut away to form an opening 69 into which the leg 70 of the U-shaped portion 68 projects when the door is closed.

Referring particularly to Figures 8, 9 and '10, a lock bolt 71 is slid ably mounted within the interlock housing and is adapted to project therefrom through an opening 72 cut in the plate 67, the bent part 58 and the part 59 of the door frame. The bolt is biased to its projected position by a spring 73. One end of this spring is seated in a pocket 74 in the end of lock bolt 71 while the other end of the spring bears against a plate 75 on the end Wall 76 of the interlock housing. The lock bolt 71 is moved into its retracted position by lever 77. The lever 77 is bifurcated and pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 78 so that the bifurcations 79 of the lever engage bosses 80 on a member 81 which straddles the bolt 71 and is secured thereto. The lever 77 is operated by a saddle member 82 which is in turn operated by shaft 83. The shaft 83 is journaled at right angles to the stub shaft 78 in the interlock housing and a collar 84 is secured to the shaft as by a set screw. On either side of the collar 84 channels 85 are formed to receive the bifurcations 86 of the saddle member 82 as is shown in Figure 10. A lug 87 formed on the saddle member 82 seats in a dome-shaped recess 88 in the lower end of lever 77. The shaft 83 projects from the end 76 of the interlock housing and has one end of an arm 89 fixed thereto. The other end of-arm 89 extends into the hatchway and carries a roller 90 positioned to be engaged by the retiring cam 56 carried by the elevator car 53.

The switch mechanism of the interlock is arranged to be operated at the sametime that the lock bolt 71 is withdrawn. The member 81 secured to the lock bolt carries four contact fingers 91,92, 93 and 94, these fingers being insulated from the member 81 and fingers 91 and 93 being insulated from fingers 92 and 94 by the insulating piece 95. The fingers 91 and 93 are supported by pivot pins 96 in housing 97 and the fingers 92 and 94.

are similarly supported by pivot pins 98 in housing 99, these housings being secured to insulating piece 95 and separated by the portion 100 thereof. With such arrangement, finger 91 is electrically connected to finger 93 and finger 92 to finger 94. With the door in closed position, fingers 91 and 92 are bridged by a bridging contact 101 carried by the door while fingers 93 and 94 engage stationary contacts 102 and 103 respectively. Springs 104 and 105. arranged between fingers 91 and 93, and 92 and 94 respectively bias their respective contact fingers into engaging relation with their cooperating contacts with the bolt in projected position. The bridging contact 101 is mounted on the leg of the U- shaped portion 68', being insulated therefrom by insulating piece 106. Stationary contacts 102 and 103 are mounted within the interlock housing on. insulating plate 107, this plate serving to insulate these contacts from each other as well as from the interlock housing. These stationary contacts are connected in a control circuit such as a circuit for controlling the starting of the elevator car. The circuit through the interlock contacts is as follows: from stationary contact 102 to finger 93, finger 91, bridging contact 101, the other fingers 92 and 94, to statidnary contact 103.

As theelevator car arrives at a landing at which a stop is being made, the retiring cam 56, carried at the side of the car, is extended for engaging roller 90 on arm 89 of the interlock mechanism 55 at that landing. Upon the engagement of the cam 56with the roller Upon movement of shaft 83, the collar 84' operates as a crank, acting on one or the other of the bifurcations 86 of saddle member 82 according to the direction of movement of shaft 83, to move the lug 87 upwardly, rocking the lever 77 about its pivot 78. Since bifurcations 79 of lever 77 are in engagement with bosses of support 81 carried by lock bolt 71, the rocking of lever 77 causes movement of the lock bolt to its retracted position against the force of spring 73. As the lock bolt 71 is withdrawn, the contact fingers 91 and 92 move therewith away from the bridging contact 101 and contact fingers 93 and 94 move out of engagement with stationary contacts 102 and 103, interrupting the control circuit. Upon the projecting end of bolt 71 being fully withdrawn from the opening 69 in the edge of the door and plate 67, the door is unlocked, the arrangement being such that the control circuit is interrupted prior to the unlocking of the door. Upon the opening of the door, the bridging contact 101 is withdrawn from the interlock housing through the opening 69. With the door in closed position, upon the cam 56 being retired, for example as the result of the pushing of a button in an automatic push button elevator system, spring 73 acts to project the lock bolt 71 first to lock the door and thereafter to complete the control circuit, permitting the starting of the; car. In the event that the cam 56 is retired when the door is in open position, the lock bolt is projected but the completion of the control circuit is prevented due to the fact that the bridging contact 101 is out of the interlock housing. Upon the closing of the door under these conditions, the edge of the door engages the-beveled edge of the lock bolt 71, camming the lock bolt into retracted position. As the door becomes fully closed, the spring 73 restores the lock bolt to projected position, locking the door and completing the control circuit. I

It is to be noted that end 64 of the interlock housing is in alignment with the part 59 of the casing flange 28 and that the h'atchway side 66 of the interlock housing is flush with the hatchway wall 21. Although the retiring cam operated arm 89 and roller 90 extend into the hatchway, the projection is at the side of the elevator car 53 and well beyond the door opening. Thus, the side of the hatchway within the planes of the sides of the elevator car as well as the planes of 'the sides of the doors is perfectly flush.

The whole of the side of the hatchway may be made flush by eliminating the arms 89 which project from the hatchway wall at the side of the elevator car 53. This may readi- 1y be accomplished by providing magnetic I means under the control of means responsive to the position of the elevator car 53 to withdraw the bolt 71 at the landing at which the elevator is stopping.

As the door sills 23 do not project into the hatchway, but are flush-with the door casings, the inner surfaces 25 of the doors and the inner side of the hatchway wall 21, and as the only projections in the hatchway are the arms 89 which are located at the sides of the elevator car 53, the construction illustrated and described provides a minimum of clearance between the entrance side of the elevator car and the adjacent side of the hatchway.

As the inner surfaces of the door sills and casings, and the rear surfaces of the hatchway doors, when closed, are flush with the inner side of the hatchway wall, it is impossible for any person to stand on a door sill between a hatchway door and the elevator car; nor is there any projection which might be grasped to support a person on the hatchway side of the door. Thus, the possibility of any person being caught between the hatchway wall and the elevator car and injured as a result of movement of the car is entirely eliminated,

Furthermore, with the above construction,

an occupant of the car cannot be injured as a result of portions of his body or clothing projecting beyond the edge of the elevator platform, since the wall of the hatchway, including the door, casing and sill surfaces, is flush throughout its height and thus devoid of any projection capable of imparting. or

causing injury. Also, the uniform minimum clearance between the car and the hatchway wall prevents an occupants foot or hand being caught between the car and the wall.

As the projections on the doors abut the flanges on the casings, a substantially lighttight and wind-tight construction is provided when the doors are closed. This arrangement also prevents the unwarranted insertion of objects between the doors and casings into the hatchway.

The door 24 may be hinged at either side i r of the casing 22, or double swinging doors may be hung at either side of the casing in which event the interlock would be located in the center of the casing.

Although specific types of interlocks, door hinges and checks are illustrated, it is apparent that other'suitable interlocks, hinges and checks may be employed. The specific details are shown only to illustrate a complete and operative construction.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, and a hatchway for said car, the portion of the side of the hatchway directly in front of the entrance of the elevator car having all of its surfaces in the course of travel of.

the car flush over a width equal at least to that of said entrance of said car.

2. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at a landing pro viding an entrance to the car, and means for closing said opening, said means and that portion ofsaid wall directly in front of the entrance of the elevator car in the course of travel of the car and of a width at least equal to that of said car entrance being flush on the inner sides thereof. a

3. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at a landing providing an entrance to the car, and a door for said opening, said door, When closed, having thesurface of its hatchway side flush with the hole of the inner side of said hatchway wall between the planes of the sides of the elevator car.

4. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings to provide an entrance to the car, the portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall directly opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said landings being fiat over a width equal at least to that of said car entrance, and a hatchway door for each of said openings, each door when closed having the surface of the hatchway side flat and in alignment with said portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall.

5. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wallofthe hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings to provide an entrance to' the car, and a swinging door for each of said openings, each door, when closed, having its inner surface flush with that portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall in front of the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of the car between said landings over a width at least equal to that of said car entrance.

6. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a'plurality of landings, a door casing ineach of said openings, each casing having its inner surface flush with that portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall in front of the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of -travel of the car between said landings over a width at least equal to that of said car entrance, and a door for each casing, each door, when closed, having its inner surface flush with said inner surface of its casing.

7.. In an elevator installation an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, the portion of the inner side of said hatchway wallopposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said landings being flat over a width at least equal to that of said entrance, a door casing in each opening, the inner surface of each door casing being flat and in alignment with said portion of the inner side of said wall, a door for each casing, each door having its inner surface fiat, and means for rendering the inner surface of each door flush with the inner surface of its casing and with said portion of said hatchway Wall when the door is closed.

8. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the "wall of the hatchwa} on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, the portion'of the inner side of said hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said landings being flat over a width at leastequal to that of said entrance, a door casing in each opening, the inner surface of each door casing being flat and in alignment with said portion of the inner side of said wall a swinging door for each casing, each door having its inner surface flat, and means on each door and lts casing cooperating to render the inner surface of the door f ush with that of its casing when the door is closed.

9. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for. said car the'wall of the hatchway on the'entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, the portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said landings being flat over a Width at least equal to that of said entrance, a door casing in each opening, the inner surface of each door casing being flat and in alignment with said portion of the inner side of said wall, a swinging door hinged in each casing, each door having its inner surface flat and flush with the inner surface of the casing when the door is closed, flanges -on each door casing, and rabbeted edges on each door cooperating with the flanges on the casing for that door to prevent the door from swinging closed beyond its flush position.

10. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, the portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said land ings being flat over a width at least equal to that of said entrance, a door casing in each opening, the inner surface of each door casing being flat and in alignment with said portion of'the inner side of said wall, a swinging door hinged in each casing, each door having its inner surface flat, a flange on one side of each casing, and a rabbeted edge on one side of each door cooperating with the flange on the casin r for that door to render the inner surface of the door flush with the inner surface of its casing.

11. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, a door casing in each opening, and a door for each casing, the inner surfaces of said doors, casings and that portion of the hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator carand of a width at least equal to that of said car entrance being flush.

12. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, a door casing in each opening, a door for each casing, and a sill for each door, the inner surfaces of said casings, doors, sills and that portion of the hatchway wall in front of the entrance of the elevator car and of a width at least equal to that of said car entrance being flush.

13. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of'a plurality of landings, a door casing in each opening, a door for each casing, and a sill for each a door, the inner surfaces of said casings, doors,

sills and that portion of the hatchway wall in front of the entrance of the elevator car and of a width equal to that of the entrance side of the elevator car being flat and in align ment to provide uniform small clearance between said entrance side of the elevator car and the adjacent side of the hatchway throughout the course of travel of the car between said landings.

14. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having anopening at each of a plurality of landings, the portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of said car between said landings being flat over a width at least equal to that of said entrance, a door casing for each opening, the

inner surface of each door casing being flat and in alignment with said portion of the inner side of said wall, a swinging door for each casing, each door having its inner surface flat, hinges for supporting each door in a position such that with the door closed its inner surface is flush with the inner surface of its casing, flanges on each casing, rabbeted edges on said doors cooperating with the flanges of the casing for the door to prevent the door from swinging closed beyond its flush position, a door latch operating device for the inner side of each door, said devices being countersunk to be flush with the inner surfaces of their respective doors, and a sight glass mounted in each door with the inner surface thereof flush with the inner surface of the door.

15. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, a door at a landing in the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car, said door, when closed, having its inner surface flush with that portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall over'a width at least equal to that of the entrance of said car and in front of said entrance in the course of travel of the car, and interlock mechanism for said door, said mechanism having a housing mounted flush with said portion of the inner side of said wall.

16. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for said car, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at a landing, a door casing in said opening, a door for said casing, and interlock mechanism for said door, said mechanism having a housing mounted in said casing, the inner surfaces of said door, casing, interlock housing and that portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall in front of the entrance of the elevator car in the course'of travel of said car over a Width attleast equal to that of said entrance being flush when the door is closed.

17. In an elevator installation, an elevator car, a hatchway for saidcar, the wall of the hatchway on the entrance side of the elevator car having an opening at each of a plurality of landings, a door casing in each opening, said door casings having their inner surfaces flush'with that portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall opposite the entrance of the elevator car throughout the course of travel of the car between said landings, a door for each-casing, each d or when closed having its inner surface flush with the inner surface of its door casing, a-flange on each casing, a rabbeted edge on each-door cooperating with the flange of the casing for the door to prevent movement of the door past its flush position, and interlock mechanism for each door, each mechanism having a housing mounted with one side thereof in alignment with the flange of the casing for the door for which the mechanism is rovided and with the inner side thereof ush with the inner surface of the casing and said portion of the inner side of said hatchway wall.

18. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; ahatchway for said car, the wall of said hatchway on the entrance side of the car having an opening at a landing; a door casing in the opening with the inner side thereof flush with that portion of the inner side of said wall in front of the entrance of said car in the path of travel of the car and for a width at least equal to that of said entrance; a door hinged in the casing with its inner surface in alignment with the inner side of said casing when the door is closed; flanges formed on the casing; projections formed on the edges of the door for abutting the casing flanges to prevent closing movement of the door past itsaligned position; and an interlock mechanism for said door having a housing mounted on the casing with its inner side flush with the inner sides of said wall and casing, said interlock mechanism comprising cooperating locking members mounted in the interlock housing and on the door for locking the door in closed position and circuit controlling means having cooperating members mounted in the housing and carried by the door for controlling the operation of the elevator car.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES JOSEPH GILROY. 

